Electronic nail clipper device and method

ABSTRACT

An electronic nail clipper includes a housing configured to receive a digit of a user, a power port, a clipped nail egress port, and a transparent panel to view the digit. Also included in the electronic nail clipper is an energy storage fixed to the housing and electrically coupled to the power port, an electronic clipper fixed to the housing the electronic clipper configured to clip the nail when the digit is received by the housing; and to eject clipped nails via the clipped nail egress port. A cap is also included to cover and protect the receiving end of the electronic nail clipper while not in use.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/356,536 filed Jun. 30, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of cutlery of existing art and more specifically relates to nail trimming implements.

RELATED ART

A nail clipper is a hand tool that may be used to trim fingernails, toenails and/or hangnails. Nail clippers are generally constructed from stainless steel, but can also be constructed from plastic or aluminum. Most nail clippers are generally provided with one or more alternate tools attached, which may be used to clean dirt/debris from under the nails such as a file which may be affixed to allow rough edges of nails to be manicured via a filing procedure.

A nail clipper typically consists of a head which may be concave or convex. Specialized nail clippers which have convex clipping ends intended for trimming toenails, while concave clipping ends are generally for fingernails. The cutting head may be manufactured to be parallel or perpendicular to the principal axis of the cutter. Cutting heads which are parallel to the principal axis are made to address accessibility issues involved with cutting toenails. In order to trim one's nails, a user must apply pressure to the nail clipper. Sometimes it is difficult for a user to complete this task due to strength issues, dexterity, illness, or age. Also, traditional nail clippers can be considered unsightly and/or not easily transportable. Another problem with traditional nail clippers is the lack of containment and/or disposal of the nail clippings after use. Therefore a suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,954,242 to Hollis Brizan relates to an electric nail clipper. The described electric nail clipper includes a device to assist individuals to either manually or automatically clip a toenail or fingernail. The fingernail or toenail is inserted into the front end of the device and a pair of trimming edges move together to clip the fingernail or toenail safely; easily and conveniently. One of the embodiments contemplates a manual device and the other is an electric device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known nail trimming implement art, the present disclosure provides a novel electronic nail clipper device and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail is to provide an efficient and effective electronic nail clipper device and method.

The electronic nail clipper preferably includes a housing configured to receive a digit (e.g., finger, toe, etc.), a power port, a clipped nail egress port, and a transparent panel to view the digit. Also included in the electronic nail clipper is an energy storage (e.g., battery, etc.) affixed to the housing and electrically coupled to the power port, an electronic clipper affixed to the housing (and electrically coupled to the energy storage). The electronic clipper is preferably configured to clip the nail when the digit is received by the housing and eject clipped nails via the clipped nail egress port. A cap is also included to cover and protect the receiving end of the electronic nail clipper while not in use.

The preferred embodiment also may include a user interface configured to receive a clip command from a user, and communicate the clip command to the electronic clipper; a controller electrically coupled to the energy storage, to the electronic clipper, and to the user interface; the controller configured to operate the electronic clipper responsive to the clip command of the user interface.

In the preferred embodiment, also included in the electronic nail clipper is at least one light source, the at least one light source located on the periphery of the housing. The housing also includes a retractable button-head chain to provide the user with a way to affix the electronic nail clipper to an article of clothing. The energy storage preferably includes a battery which is removable and replaceable as well as being chargeable by the power port.

According to another embodiment, a method of using an electronic nail clipper is also disclosed herein. The method of use includes a first step, providing an electronic nail clipper; a second step, placing a digit of a user within the electronic nail clipper; a third step, clipping at least one nail of a digit by electronic nail clipper and removing the digit from the electronic nail clipper; a fourth step, opening the egress port of the electronic nail clipper; and a fifth step, removing nail clippings from the electronic nail clipper. It must be noted that not all steps of the method of use are required in all instances, and the steps of the method of use need not be performed in any particular order.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, an electronic nail clipper for nail(s) of at least one digit of a user and a method of use, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of using an electronic clipper for a nail of a digit of a user, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cutlery and more particularly to an electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user as used to improve the safety and reliability of the trimming of nails of digits by an aesthetically pleasing device.

Generally, an electronic nail clipper for a nail of a digit is a tube-shaped nail clipping device with a lid/cap. The device includes an inner volume in which a user or users may insert a finger to trim a nail from a digit. A user(s) must insert one's finger into the device until reaching a curved wall of a clipper with a horizontal opening to transpose only the nail. The user may push one's finger/digit further into the device in order to expose the entire nail to the clipper. The curved wall includes a spring to provide a positive force on the user's finger/toe/digit.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user 100. As shown, an electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 50, (FIG. 1) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of user 100 may be beneficial for use by user 40 to provide a device to clip and maintain clippings from digit 5 in a single device. Controller 150 may automatically operate electronic clipper 130 in response to positive pressure upon electronic clipper 130. Electronic nail clipper 100 may also include removable cap 170 to cover and protect an opening of electronic nail clipper 100.

As illustrated, electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user 100 may include (but is not limited to) housing 110 configured to receive digit 5, power port 112, clipped nail egress port 114, energy storage 120 fixed to housing 110 (and electrically coupled to power port 112), electronic clipper 130 fixed to housing 110 (electrically coupled to energy storage 120). Where electronic clipper 130 may be configured to clip nail 10 when digit 5 is received by housing 110, and to eject clipped nails via clipped nail egress port 114. Power port 112 may include a universal serial bus port and/or other similar electronic/electrical connections.

Also included may be user interface 140 configured to receive a clip command from user 40, and communicate the clip command to electronic clipper 130; and controller 150 electrically coupled to energy storage 120, to electronic clipper 130, and to user interface 140; wherein controller 150 may be configured to operate electronic clipper 130 responsive to clip command of user interface 140.

According to one embodiment, electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user 100 may be arranged as kit 105. In particular electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user 100 may further include set of instructions 107. Instructions 107 may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user 100 such that electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a use 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner.

Electronic nail clipper 100, in embodiments, may further include at least one light source 162 located on a periphery of housing 110. Also, energy storage 120 may removable and replaceable. Additionally, energy storage 120 may be rechargeable via power port. Embodiments may also include retractable button-headed chain 160, chain 160 to provide user 40 with a means for affixing electronic nail clipper 100 to an article of clothing of user 40.

Housing 110 may also include transparent panel 164 to view digit 5, in embodiments. Whereas other embodiments may include translucent or opaque panels of housing 110. Spring 166 may further be included to provide positive pressure upon digit 5 when inserted into electronic nail clipper 100. Electronic clipper 130 may also include a size adjuster (e.g., width, height, etc.) such that electronic clipper 130 may suitable for use for different sizes of nail(s) 10.

In embodiments, controller 150 may be manually operable by user 40. Alternate or additional embodiments may include light source 162 which may be manually operated via user 40. As such light source 40 may automatically operated via user 40 by placing digit 5 within housing 110 of electronic nail clipper 100. Digit 5 of user 40 may include a finger. Alternate embodiments may include digit(s) 5 which include a toe, hoof and/or other nail(s) of a human or animals as needed.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating method of use 500 for electronic nail clipper 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method 500 may include one or more components or features of the electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user 100 as described above. As illustrated, method of using an electronic nail clipper 500 may include the steps of: step one 501, providing electronic nail clipper 100; step two 502, placing digit 5 within electronic nail clipper 100; step three 503, clipping at least one nail 10 of digit 5 via electronic nail clipper 100 and removing digit 5 from electronic nail clipper 100; step four 504, opening egress port 114 of electronic nail clipper 100; and step five 505, removing clippings from electronic nail clipper 100.

It should be noted that step four 504, and step five 505 are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for use of electronic nail clipper 100 are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. An electronic nail clipper for nail of a digit of a user, the electronic nail clipper comprising: a housing configured to receive said digit, and including a power port and clipped nail egress port; an energy storage fixed to said housing and electrically coupled to said power port; an electronic clipper fixed to the housing, and electrically coupled to said energy storage, said electronic clipper configured to clip the nail when said digit is received by the housing, and to eject clipped nails via said clipped nail egress port; a user interface configured to receive a clip command from a user, and communicate said clip command to said electronic clipper; and a controller electrically coupled to the energy storage, to said electronic clipper, and to said user interface, said controller configured to operate said electronic clipper responsive to said clip command of said user interface.
 2. The device of claim 1, further including at least one light source located on a periphery of said housing.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said energy storage is removable and replaceable.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said energy storage is rechargeable via said power port.
 5. The device of claim 1, further including a retractable button-headed chain, said chain to provide said user with a means for affixing said device to an article of clothing.
 6. The device of claim 1, wherein said power port includes a universal serial bus port.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a transparent panel to view the digit.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said device further includes a spring to provide positive pressure upon said digit when inserted into said device.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein said clipper includes a size adjuster such that the clipper is suitable for use for different sizes of nails.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein said controller automatically operates said clipper in response to positive pressure upon said clipper.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said controller is manually operable by said user.
 12. The device of claim 1, further including a light source which is manually operated via said user.
 13. The device of claim 1, further including a light source which is automatically operated via said user placing said digit within said housing of said device.
 14. The device of claim 1, wherein said housing is constructed from a transparent material.
 15. The device of claim 1, wherein said digit includes a finger of said user.
 16. The device of claim 1, further including a removable cap.
 17. An electronic nail clipper, the electronic nail clipper comprising: a housing configured to receive said digit, and including a power port, clipped nail egress port, and a transparent panel to view said digit; an energy storage fixed to said housing and electrically coupled to said power port; an electronic clipper fixed to the housing, and electrically coupled to said energy storage, said electronic clipper configured to clip the nail when said digit is received by the housing, and to eject clipped nails via said clipped nail egress port; a user interface configured to receive a clip command from a user, and communicate said clip command to said electronic clipper; a controller electrically coupled to the energy storage, to said electronic clipper, and to said user interface, said controller configured to operate said electronic clipper responsive to said clip command of said user interface; at least one light source located on a periphery of said housing; a retractable button-headed chain, said chain to provide said user with a means for affixing said device to an article of clothing; a removable cap; wherein said energy storage is removable and replaceable; and wherein said energy storage is rechargeable via said power port.
 18. The device of claim 17, further comprising set of instructions; and wherein the device is arranged as a kit.
 19. A method of using an electronic nail clipper, the method comprising the steps of: providing an electronic nail clipper; placing a digit within said electronic nail clipper; clipping at least one nail of said digit via said electronic nail clipper; and removing said digit from said electronic nail clipper.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: opening an egress port of said electronic nail clipper; and removing clippings from said electronic nail clipper. 